As violent, unruly flyers turn the friendly skies into a high-altitude riot, airlines are finally clamping down on air rage

Like any seasoned flight attendant, Fiona Weir has had her share of disgruntled passengers. But Steven Handy, 37, an unemployed Englishman who boarded an Airtours late-night flight from London to Spain six weeks ago, was a different breed. Apparently drunk at takeoff, he ignored Weir's warnings not to smoke in the lavatory, cursed her and demanded liquor, Weir says. Then, just as the plane was landing in Malaga, Handy reportedly smashed her over the head with a duty-free vodka bottle before being restrained by fellow passengers.

Unfortunately, Handy, who's out on bail pending an investigation in Spain, isn't the only...